Cheating Husbands are Cancer

There was a pause, and then he gently whispered, “Rachel, are you awake?” I kept still. He reached out to me, and carefully brushed a tear away with his fingertip. Then he wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace, as he usually did. I turned away, still pretending to be fast asleep. With my back to him, I gradually opened my eyes. In the darkness, everything was magnified—even emotions. The resentment in my heart was spiralling rapidly into a howling cyclone of hatred. How could anyone do something like this? While plotting my ruin under the table, how could he still act as though I was the greatest love of his life? Despicable, two-faced thing… I had to fight back the urge to gag. - The next day, I took that medical report Ian had presented me with, and brought it to the hospital which had supposedly issued the diagnosis. By the time I staggered out of their Oncology Department, my heart had grown cold. It was a sham, a falsified document that Ian had draw

No, divorce was unthinkable. For one thing, Ian and I had been married for ten years, and all our assets and holdings were jointly owned by us both. Splitting everything down the middle would result in tremendous losses for him. Hence, this half-baked ploy revolving around his fake claims of cancer… There, just as I’d thought: Jane was panicking. When I tried to send her another message, all I got was an alert about having been blocked from her end. I shook my head with a little chuckle. Very well then… if they intended to play games, I could certainly join in. They were the ones in a precarious position. I was eager to see just how long they could keep up this sordid charade… - However, Ian was in even worse shape than I’d imagined. Just as I got back home, he arrived right behind me. Perhaps his mistress had given him quite an earful, because he was a wretched and miserable sight. He presented me with a divorce application form, while making a plaintive appeal. “R

"To hell with him! And, indeed, hell is what awaits the sort of man who abandons his own wife and family!"The conspirators exchanged looks amongst themselves, the displeasure evident upon their faces. And yet, as much as they'd like to get in a few choice words here, all they could really do was swallow it down and sulk. Meanwhile, I was having the time of my life! It was the perfect moment to add fuel to the fire. "Mom, are you aware that your son has late-stage cancer, and is standing right at death's door?" At these words, Ian's mother stiffened with a nasty jolt, and instantly began screeching in my direction: "What nonsense is this?! How dare you—" Ian rushed forward, and caught hold of her arm. She froze mid-sentence, and then her expression transformed dramatically as she began to wail in lamentation instead. "No matter what it is that's gone wrong, he can be cured! Modern medicine regularly makes miracles happen!" So it was true: They were both in on this scheme, to

I put the phone down in a corner until he was done with his ranting."Ian, I've given it a lot of thought… and I've changed my mind about this divorce! I'm going to stick with you until the bitter end! I don't care if I end up your widow! 'In sickness and in health, until death do we part!' I remember my vows to you! Ian… the truth is that you were hoping I'd decide to stay with you, weren't you? Doesn't this lift your spirits, my love?"I, for one, was absolutely thrilled by this turn of events!"By the way, I'll be out of town for some days. Best not to call me unless it's really important. Take care of yourself, go for regular check-ups and treatment… make sure you give the doctors your full cooperation, okay?"Yet another chance, for old times' sake. It was possible that these might turn out to be the last sincere words I'd ever say to him.I doubt he appreciated the gesture. Fuming, he ended the call on me, this time.When I returned from the care center, I found Ian in a tr

Once his death certificate had been issued, I called Ian’s mother again. She ought to have the chance to look upon him one last time. “Come to the hospital, so you can say your final farewells to Ian.” “Can’t make it. I’m really busy over here. Jane hasn’t been feeling well, so I’ve got to look after her—not to mention the child in her belly.” Calmly, I ended the call. I accompanied Ian’s body to the funeral parlor, where I sent his mother a photo. Only then did she come hurrying over, spooked and mortified. She made it just in time to see Ian’s body being pushed into the fire. At this sight, she collapsed to the floor, weeping inconsolably. I came over to stand impassively before her, quietly pronouncing the truth. “So many times I called you, and still you refused to take me seriously. His death is on you. You weren’t even there when he drew his last breath!” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with bewilderment, disbelief, and horror. “No… no, it’s not… not my fault…”